“I think it’s regrettable. But, given the nature of this scenario, it's not entirely unexpected,†Ireland's Prime Minister Michael Martin said upon arriving for the second day of the EU summit in Brussels. “I would urge continued dialogue and adherence to the agreement because the world needs stability and peace.â€
Martin’s comments come after news broke that the United States and Iran postponed their planned negotiations in Switzerland.Â
It's somewhat dulled the general optimism here at the EU summit in Brussels, after the successful G7 summit in Evian. There, they had seized the moment: US President Donald Trump was promised European political support for the newly negotiated Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, whilst they were also able to convince him to increase pressure on Russian President Putin so that peace talks could potentially finally begin over ending the war in Ukraine.
Strategic Stakes for Europe and Ukraine
For the European Union, the stakes go beyond the immediate question of nuclear safeguards and the security of critical shipping routes, such as the Strait of Hormuz.
The G7 summit in Evian showed how closely the conflicts in Iran and in Ukraine are interconnected.
With a solution to the Iran war and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz on the horizon, the tense situation for the global economy could also ease, particularly when it comes to oil prices. This easing, in turn, would allow US President Trump to reinstate oil sanctions against Russia. As he promised in Evian.
The key question for Europe remains: When might a diplomatic window for peace talks with Russia open, and just how might it take shape?
